As followers of Jesus reaching out to immigrants in the U.S., a common thread is appearing through these contacts - immigrants are interested in learning more about Jesus, particularly as they've heard that the U.S. is a "Christian nation". Yet what they've perceived from abroad and often what they find on arrival is that "Christian nation" and Christ-follower are not the same thing. The following accounts are what some followers of Christ have found in sharing the message of hope in Christ.
Ali - During a recent distribution, I spoke with an Iraqi man. He’d fled from his home country ten years ago because of the political regime at the time. He had lost most of his family members to the war. He was so sad, and when I told him about Christ, his eyes got wide and he told me that he’d gotten a JESUS DVD last year. He said he believes in it but he didn’t know what the next step is. After I prayed with him, I told him to contact the ministry about whom to get connected with; he was so excited, he almost cried.
Faysa - In teaching English as a Second Language courses, I have a student named Faysa who came from the Arabian peninsula fifteen years ago and is a U.S. citizen. As a girl, she wasn't allowed to go to school, and on arriving here was able to learn to speak English by watching television, but due to raising seven children hadn't had the time to learn to read it. She is a very eager student!
We've had many conversations about Christ, and she desires to know the truth. I asked Faysa if she would like to watch the JESUS DVD, and we arranged for a time convenient for her. We watched it in Arabic first, and I could tell throughout the film that she was very touched by what she was seeing. When it was over she said, "I get it!"
She said that she had never heard the love of Jesus Christ explained in her own language, and that it really helped her understand God's love and forgiveness through sending His only Son to die on the cross for her. She asked me to get her a copy so she can watch it over and over. Even though we've had many conversations about who Jesus is, this film opened her eyes in a way that conversations hadn't. I'm very grateful to those who have made this film available.
Mojdeh - One day she was visiting a charity-run clothes store, and when asked where she was from, said, "Iran." Mojdeh was pleased at the question, and asked "Do you have a bilingual book in Farsi and English that would help me speak smooth English?" The store helper told her that she had something even better - a Story of Jesus DVD in both Farsi and English. Mojdeh became very excited, realizing now that she could listen to a story in well-spoken Farsi and then listen to the same story in well-spoken English. She said that it was the perfect tool for her to study over and over!
Aslam - This gentleman is a South Asian pharmacist who worked together with an American pharmacist. Aslam asked him for a copy of the Jesus DVD so that he could learn classical Arabic to help in his understanding the Koran. While watching the DVD in its original language, Aslam will have the opportunity to learn of Jesus and God's plan of redemption for Aslam through Christ's shed blood on the Cross.
Aamhi - My story is of an immigrant who was eating in his car. At the time he was leaving, he rolled the window down and said to me, "I will take your materials if you eat my food, and he offered me a piece of food.
I took it and ate a bite of it to show love and respect to his offer. I gave the rest to one of the team who was with me to do the same, and it was really good food. I told him 'thank you' with a smile on my face, "It's your turn now", and I offered him the materials about the Truth of Jesus Christ. He took them with a smile and thanked me. Another immigrant rolled up his window and he said declined the offer of the story of Jesus; however, his wife rolled down the window and she took the materials from my teammate who was standing on the opposite side walk. Praise God. We were filled with joy, and the presence of God.
Maadi - “I really enjoyed being at the event yesterday. I found that 90% of the participants accepted the gift, whether they were from a majority religion, Jewish, Zoroastrian, or secular background. Knowing the language and being older helped me in talking a few minutes with quite a few. Also when I gave out a gift to one person and spoke in their language, often others asked for the gift also.”
“I also experienced a God given moment: One person asked where I lived in the home country, and I told them, and he replied that was his home city. We talked about different locations there that we both know. Then I asked him if he knew about the Christian hospital in the city (It had been a Presbyterian hospital, and then given to a Christian doctor). He replied that he was trying to think of that hospital and its name all this week. I told him that God must have led in this, and encouraged him to watch the gift and and listen to an additional CD that I gave him.”
"This man, Maadi, who lives out of state, then requested a full Bible in his language. He asked, 'Have you heard that lots of people in my country are becoming followers of Christ?' ”
Mahmood - "Jim and I were sharing one Friday evening in North Carolina and stopped by a shop to get some coffee. We entered the store and began a conversation with the clerk who was new to the country. After a few minutes of friendly, light conversation, I offered him a copy of the English-Arabic New Testament containing the Gospel of Jesus. Mahmood was hesitant at first, but then took the small book. I told him we'd be interested in knowing what he thought after he read some of it, with the intent to return. A few minutes later we left and went to the car. As we started to back out of the parking space, Mahmood hurriedly came out of the store to our car. I rolled down the window, and Mahmood asked earnestly, 'Will you come back?' We promised we would in a couple weeks, and left the facility. We did return a couple weeks later, but Mahmood wasn't working, or perhaps had left the job. Please pray for him and those around him - that the Holy Spirit would make the words of God's truth alive and that they would know Jesus.
Hamid - "I ordered a copy of the Jesus Film in Farsi for an Iranian friend who had become a follower of Jesus a few years ago. I called my friend, Hamid, and asked him to go to lunch with me and, at that time, gave him the Jesus Film in Farsi. Hamid hugged me and cried. He said no one had ever given him anything in his own language before.
"Several days later Hamid called me to say that his brother showed up from Iran the same day that he'd received the Jesus Film. It was a “totally” surprise visit for Hamid. Interestingly enough, Hamid had always wondered how he would present the gospel to any of his family members when he saw them again! Now he had the Jesus Film to present.
"After showing the Jesus Film, Hamid asked his brother if he had ever heard of Jesus. His brother responded, “Oh yes, but I thought He was an American!” Both his brother and his mother became Christians. Praise be to God!"
